Background: Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma is rarely located in bony tissue, observed in only 5% of primary bone tumors and 4-6% of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The mandibular localization is exceptional (0.6%). Clinical and histological features may be misleading, raising the risk of late diagnosis. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are required.
Case reports: We report three cases of primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the mandible diagnosed between 1993 and 2000. All patients were males, aged 9, 37, and 45 years. Mean delay to diagnosis was 8 months. The inaugural complaint was a painful mass of the mandible in all patients. The histomorphology study and immunohistochemistry established the diagnosis. Two patients had diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the third anaplastic non-Hodgkin lymphoma. All patients were staged IE and given chemotherapy, associated with radiotherapy in one case. All patients achieved complete remission and continued to be in good health during follow-up lasting from 1 to 9 years.